Bolt guards for door

ABSTRACT

Guard means for securing a door locked to the door frame to prevent forceable entry comprising a frame guard and a door guard and novel means for anchoring the frame guard to the door frame. Frame guard plate members are formed to overlap the frame at the lock portion and the upright studs or masonry of the wall forming the door opening. Means connect the sides of the frame guard member to the upright studs. Means are also provided between the frame and the studs or masonry to connect both sides of the frame guard. A door guard is formed to overlap the edge and sides of the door and connected thereto.

United States Patent 11 1 Fabrici 1 1 BOLT GUARDS FOR DOOR [76] inventor: Edward Fabrici. 7000 Carolina PL.

Merrillville. 1nd.

122] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.1 351,494

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 252.836. May 12 1972, abandoned.

52 us. ca. ..292/340;292/346 511 Int. Cl. E05c 19/00 58 FieldotSearch 70/416,418; 292/337, 340,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 648.747 5/1900 Ibsen 52/210 2,144,075 1/1939 Mora .i 292/346 2.309.452 1/1943 Hasenburger et al..... 52/210 X 2.317.700 4/1943 Thompson 292/254 2.680.640 6/1954 Carry 292/340 X 1 1 June 10, I975 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Walter Leuca 57] ABSTRACT Guard means for securing a door locked to the door frame to prevent forceable entry comprising a frame guard and a door guard and novel means for anchoring the frame guard to the door frame. Frame guard plate members are formed to overlap the frame at the lock portion and the upright studs or masonry of the wall forming the door opening. Means connect the sides of the frame guard member to the upright studs. Means are also provided between the frame and the studs or masonry to connect both sides of the frame guard. A door guard is formed to overlap the edge and sides of the door and connected thereto.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 10 I975 3, 8 53 0 BOLT GUARDS FOR DOOR The subject application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application. Scr. No. 252.836. filed May I2, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in security devices for doors and more particularly to a door guard construction for preventing the lock device being forced open by extraneous means.

2. Description of the Prior Art This invention is directed to the problem of securing a door from being forced open and thereby protect against illegal entry. It is commonly known by those skilled in the art of security that the conventional lock means provided to lock a door can be easily opened for illegal entry without the use of a key. Among the many devices and means used for illegal entry are the use of a stiff but flexible. thin sheet member for insertion be tween the door and the door frame at the strike plate location to wedge against the beveled side of the latch, if such lock means is used. which is effective to push in the latch and thereby unlock the door. Other means include inserting a jimmy bar in the space between the door and the door frame to force the door away from the frame a sufficient amount to allow the latch to clear the strike plate recess by which the lock latch is retained. Still other means include the use of a bar inserted between the door and the frame and with sufficient force to destructively separate the bolt lock from the strike plate to thereby force open the door. I am aware of door attachments to protect against forceful opening of doors, however, these devices of the prior art have only to be overcome by additional force ap plied to the tool which is inserted between the door and the frame to force open the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention provides new and novel guard means which is simple and economical to manufacture, easy to install and effectively protects against insertion means between the door and door frame to spread the locking mechanism apart to pry open the door. My invention also provides protection against the application of a superior force to uproot the fastening elements anchoring the guard members to the door and the door frame. The novelty of my invention lies in the fact that for the simplicity and economy of the structure of my invention, the security is the greatest.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent after a more careful study of the following detail description which is to be read in combination with the accompanying drawing which iflustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a front elevation of the guard members of my invention as it would be viewed mounted on the door and door frame-wall combination which is shown in fragment;

FIG. 2 is a plan elevation of my invention shown in operative relation with the door and door framewall combination sectioned along line 22 of FIG. 1. The view of the door and the frame-wall combination as shown in fragment;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the frame guard as viewed along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of my invention as it would be viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 1 and reduced in size;

FIG. 5 is a top fragment view of the guard members of my invention sectioned along lines 55 of FIG. I showing the cooperative connection between the guard members in detail;

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of a modified frame guard connected to the door frame and wall and shown in operative relation with a door; and

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the door frame shown in fragment and the modified frame guard connected thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in particular to FIGS. I and 2 for the present, numeral I0 designates generally the guard means of my invention. My invention comprises a pair of sheet metal members 14 and 16 each thereof formed in a generally U-shape when viewed from the edge thereof. An upset I2 is formed in guard member 14 which is connected to door frame 20. Guard member 14 is hereinafter referred to as frame guard 14.

Upset web portion 12 of guard 14 forms the door stop and is positioned to overlap the upright member 18 of frame 20. The recessed web portion 13 of guard 14 is provided with one or moe apertures 22 and 24 which register with recesses provided in the upright 18 of frame 20, and which receive the door latch 26 and a door bolt (not shown), if one is so provided as indicated in the view illustrated in FIG. 3. Strike plates 28 and 30, more clearly shown in FIG. 3, are shown provided in recesses 29 and 31 formed in frame guard 14 of my invention to give a finished appearance, however, said strike plates and recesses provided therefor are not necessary.

The conventional wall framing provided around doors in houses to which my invention is directed but not limited thereto, generally comprise a double stud member 32 around a door opening 34 ofa wall 36. The door frame 20 to which door 38 is hung, is fitted between double stud member 32 provided on each side of opening 34 and the upright members 18 of frame 20 are adjusted to plumb and to the proper door width by using spacers such as shims (not shown) between one or both of the uprights 18 of frame 20 and the double stud members 32 of wall 36. At this point it should be mentioned that in masonry construction, the double stud members 32 are not present and the end of wall 36 is formed with masonry. In such case, the numeral 32 would apply to the masonry substituted for the double stud member. Door frame 20 is then conventionally secured to the wall and studs. The guard member 14 of my invention is fitted to the upright member 18 of door frame 30 with upset web portion 12 fitting over the door step portion 42 of frame 20. Plate members 44 and 46 of guard 14 extend parallel and at right angles from the web thereof to form a U-shape. It should be understood, however. that plate members 44 and 46 are not required to be connected by web portion 12 to provide an effective frame guard. The frame guard may be modified and formed as separate plates I44 and 146 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 which will be hereinafter described as modified frame guard 114. The inside and outside plate members 44 and 46 extend across wall 36 a distance sufficient to overlap the double stud member 32. Provided on the interior of outside plate member 46 of frame guard 14 are one or more threaded sockets 48 formed integral therewith such as by welding or upset at a location thereon to align with clearance space 50 between upright member 18 and stud 32. An aperture 52 is provided in the other plate member 44 of frame guard 14 aligned with threaded socket 48 so that when frame guard 14 of my invention is fitted onto the upright member 18 of door frame and in position to receive the closing edge of the door 38, a rigid connecting member such as bolt 54 is inserted in aper ture 52 through clearance space 50 between upright member 18 of door frame 20 and double stud member 32 and the threaded end thereof screwed into socket 48 to securely fasten and make integral frame guard 14 of my invention around upright member 18 of door frame 20. The portion of plate members 44 and 46 overlap ping the double stud member 32 may be further provided with means for connection to the studs of double stud member 32. I have illustrated screws 56, however, any convenient means may be used to accomplish the connection therebetween.

Though it is not necessary to use a door guard to receive the benefits of the reinforcement provided by the frame guard 14, a second guard plate member 16, hereinafter referred to as door guard 16, may be connected to door 38 spanning the open end of the door at the position thereon wherein is located lock device 38 and door knob members 60 to provide additional strength and security means. The web portion 62 of door guard 16 spanning the edge of door 38 is provided with apertures to allow passage therethrough of door knob latch 26 and the lock bolt (not shown). Plate members 64 and 66 of door guard 16 overlap the outside and insid. face of door 38 respectively and are provided with aligned apertures to allow the passage therethrough of the door knob spindle and the lock tumbler (not shown). Door guard 16, at the junction of web 62 and plate member 66, is formed with an upset ridge 68 along the longitudinal edge thereof and fits into a mating groove 70 provided at the junction of the upset portion 12 and recess portion 13 of the web of frame guard 14. This structure serves as an additional barrier to prevent entry of a snaking tool inserted between the door edge and the frame intended to wedge against door latch 26 to open the door if the door knob is the only locking means provided. Door guard 16, at the junction of web 62 and plate member 64, is formed with a longitudinal lip 72 on the inside of the door edge, the length of the door guard 16 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and S. This feature of the door guard provides a barrier to prevent a tool being inserted from the inside of the door at the lock member with the intention of forcing the door open when the door may not be unlocked from the inside. In this connection, it should be explained that many break-ins occur through unprotected windows and a door easily broken open from the inside and contents of the house easily removed including large items, such as television sets and furniture pieces, which would not otherwise be removed if the only opening available to the intruder is the window. Another reason that it is important for the intruders to use the door is that the appearance of suspicious activity is minimized,

especially if the unlawful intruders utilize moving vans and repair trucks to carry away the furniture pieces since this would give the appearance that the intruders are there with consent.

Another preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and is particularly useful because of the ease in applying the frame guard of my invention to an existing structure, and also on any structure previously built or new, where an even more economical frame guard member may be provided which is very effective. It will be noted that the outside plate member 146 of frame guard 114 is an individual plate member which may be fitted between door frame upright 118 of I20 and the exterior wall siding or molding. The inside plate member 144 is formed in the shape of an I. to overlap the door frame portion which is in abutting relation with door 138 when it is closed and serves as strike plate 113. Strike plate portion 113 is provided with a latch or bolt hole 122 to receive the lock bolt 126. Means such as holes or any convenient device may be provided so that plate members 144 and 146 can be connected to the double stud structure 132 if the frame is constructed of wood. The principal retaining means of my invention. whether in the form illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 or in the form illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, is a rigid member such as bolt 154 which connects both plate members 144 and 146 of frame guard 114 and fitted between stud member 132 forming the wall opening and door frame 118. Though I have shown the outer plate member 146 connected to door frame 118 by means of bolt 154 extending from plate 144 to plate 146 and connecting the plates to the sides of the door frame by bolt head at one end thereof and threaded means 148 which serves as a nut at the other end thereof, it is to be understood that any conve' nient means may be provided to connect outer and inner plate members 144 and 146 respectively, provided that fastening element 154 is a rigid member and connects the plates between the door frame and the wall opening. This modified frame guard 114 of my invention has the added advantage of being applicable to different width door frames whereas the frame guard 14, illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, being U-shaped is formed predimensioned to fit standard width door frames.

The portions of the guards of my invention exposed to view may be decorated with scrolls to provide an attractive appearance. The frame guard 14 of my invention can be connected to the wall before the wall finish is applied as when the building is being newly constructed or may be applied over the wall finish and under the casing or molding in existing buildings.

I claim:

1. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected in spaced relation to a structural member forming a door opening in a wall, comprising:

a sheet plate member overlapping said frame member and said structural member; a second sheet plate member formed in a generally L-shape having a strike plate and side plate, said strike plate overlapping said frame member and said plate of said second sheet plate member overlapping the other side of said structural member; and

a rigid member between said frame member and said structural member secured at each end thereof to said sheet plate member and side plate of said second sheet plate member.

2. The guard means of claim 1 wherein said side plates are further characterized as being connected to said structural member of said wall.

3. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected to studs of a wall in spaced relation thereto comprising:

a sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion and side plates. said web portion traversely overlapping said frame member and said plates overlapping opposite sides of said wall: and

a rigid member between said frame member and said studs of said wall secured at each end thereof to said side plates.

4. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected to a wall end in spaced relation thereto, comprising:

a sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion and side plates. said web portion traversely overlapping said frame member and said side plates overlapping opposite sides of said wall; and

a rigid member between said frame member and said wall end secured at each end thereof to said side plates.

5. The guard means of claim 3 wherein said side plates are further characterized as being connected to said studs of said wall.

6. The guard means of claim 4 wherein said web portion is further characterized as being longitudinally upset to provide a door stop means.

7. The guard means of claim 6 wherein said web portion is further characterized as having a groove recess in the upset portion thereof 8. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected to a wall end in spaced relation thereto, comprising:

a sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion and side plates, said web portion traversely overlapping said frame member and said side plates overlapping opposite sides of said wall; said web portion having a longitudinal upset to provide a door step means, and a groove recess in said upset forming said door stop means;

a rigid member between said frame member and said wall end secured at each end thereof to said side plates to provide an integral connection around said frame member; and

a second sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion traversely overlapping the edge of said door and side plates overlapping the opposite sides of said door. said second sheet plate member having a ridge at the juncture of said web and one of said side plates formed to be received in said groove recess, and lip means at the juncture of said web and the other of said side plates for overlapping one of said side plates of said first sheet metal plate member.

0' t I l l 

1. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected in spaced relation to a structural member forming a door opening in a wall, comprising: a sheet plate member overlapping said frame member and said structural member; a second sheet plate member formed in a generally L-shape having a strike plate and side plate, said strike plate overlapping said frame member and said plate of said second sheet plate member overlapping the other side of said structural member; and a rigid member between said frame member and said structural member secured at each end thereof to said sheet plate member and side plate of said second sheet plate member.
 2. The guard means of claim 1 wherein said side plates are further characterized as being connected to said structural member of said wall.
 3. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected to studs of a wall in spaced relation thereto, comprising: a sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion and side plates, said web portion traversely overlapping said frame member and said plates overlapping opposite sides of said wall; and a rigid member between said frame member and said studs of said wall secured at each end thereof to said side plates.
 4. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected to a wall end in spaced relation thereto, comprising: a sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion and side plates, said web portion traversely overlapping said frame member and said side plates overlapping opposite sides of said wall; and a rigid member between said frame member and said wall end secured at each end thereof to said side plates.
 5. The guard means of claim 3 wherein said side plates are further characterized as being connected to said studs of said wall.
 6. The guard means of claim 4 wherein said web portion is further characterized as being longitudinally upset to provide a door stop means.
 7. The guard means of claim 6 wherein said web portion is further characterized as having a groove recess in the upset portion thereof.
 8. Guard means to which a door may be securely locked to a frame member wherein said frame member is connected to a wall end in spaced relation thereto, comprising: a sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion and side plates, said web portion traversely overlapping said frame member and said side plates overlapping opposite sides of said wall; said web portion having a longitudinal upset to provide a door step means, and a groove recess in said upset forming said door stop means; a rigid member between said frame member and said wall end secured at each end thereof to said side plates to provide an integral connection around said frame member; and a second sheet plate member formed in a generally U-shape having a web portion traversely overlapping the edge of said door and side plates overlapping the opposite sides of said door, said second sheet plate member having a ridge at the juncture of said web and one of said side plates formed to be received in said groove recess, and lip means at the juncture of said web and the other of said side plates for overlapping one of said side plates of said first sheet metal plate member. 